The PTDA Business Index indicated 1Q2011 was the fourth consecutive quarter for business growth among PTDA members. With a reading of 85.5, the recently released first quarter results indicate the power transmission/motion control industry expanded at a faster pace compared with 4Q2010 when the index was at 73.4.

[Note:  The index reading indicates the rate of change compared with the previous period. For example, a reading of 50 indicates no change from the prior period while readings above 50 indicate growth and below 50 indicate contraction. The further the index is above or below 50 suggests a faster or slower rate of change.]

The table below provides an overview of the results and a breakout reading of the PTDA Business Index by distributor and manufacturer.



The PTDA Business Index full report is available through PTDA’s website at www.ptda.org/Index. It includes U.S. and Canadian breakout data in addition to historical data. Conducted jointly by PTDA and Cleveland Research Company, the PTDA Quarterly Business Index was modeled after the widely respected Purchasing Managers Index and tracks change in business activity, new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and backlog in the PT/MC market to arrive at an overall index.

Founded in 1960, the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) is the leading association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel.  A U.S.-based trade association, PTDA represents 188 power transmission/motion control distribution firms that generate more than $10 billion in sales and span 3,500 locations in North America and 11 other countries.  PTDA members also include 187 manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry.

PTDA is dedicated to providing exceptional networking, targeted education, relevant information and leading-edge business tools to help distributors and manufacturers meet marketplace demands competitively and profitably.  For more information, visit www.ptda.org.